Obese children are at an automatic disadvantage in schools: Obviously, since the brain is the driving force within our bodies, it only logically follows that:

1. Kids who aren’t nourishing their bodies also aren't nourishing their brains. Countless studies and anecdotal observations confirm a clear link between the quality of food kids eat and their academic performance. In other words, a diet of whole foods such as broccoli and peaches will likely get you better test scores than one of soda and Twinkies. And be honest - which foods do you see more often in the lunchroom? There is also plenty of evidence linking improved academic performance to physical activity. Those adults who have a regular exercise routine ‘routinely' report a greater sense of productivity in their work. Again, it only makes sense that the same would translate to our kids. Want to get those test scores up? Pay attention to what your kids eat, and how often they get the chance to move!2. Obese children will live shorter lives than their parents: The New England Journal of Medicine reported that if the childhood obesity trends continue, this will be the first generation of children that lives shorter lives than their parents. Why are we so concerned about test scores and ignoring our students life expectancy? Why do we think it's more important that they score a good grade on an end of year test than that they have clean arteries, fully functioning organs, and a body that won't betray them? If we already know that heart disease and type-2 diabetes shorten a person's lifespan, why aren't we springing into action as a nation when we realize that more and more children under the age of 10 are afflicted with these 'adult' conditions? There are undeniable health risks involved with smoking, for instance. And we've made great strides in combatting that deadly habit. But our Standard American Diet is just as deadly, if not more so. We won't let our children smoke, but we'll let them drink Cokes all day long. A regular 16 ounce bottle of Coke has 194 calories and a whopping 54 grams of sugar, sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. Not an ounce of nutrition in the bottle. Think for a minute about what that does to our kids bodies, and it's not hard to conclude they won’t live longer than us.3. Hardly any of our children eat healthy: Various studies and reports conclude that only 2% of children in the United States eat a diet along the guidelines given by the USDA. If this is the case, it can be safely assumed that the number of children who eat according to the more nutritionally sound 'Eat Right America' food pyramid (which focuses on whole vegetables and fruits, not grains, as the most important foundation of a healthy diet) is statistically too small to even calculate. Which means that so few American children eat nutrient dense foods every day, we can't even group enough of them together for a percentage point. This is a staggering number - or rather, lack thereof. Most of our kids don't eat vegetables every day, never mind the recommended several servings.4. Fast food is on the rise: It's cheap, seems convenient, and to taste buds that don't know the joys of eating whole, nourishing foods, it tastes great. But it not only lacks the necessary nutrients for growth and proper development, it actually contains an overload of ingredients that, over time, are deadly - grease, trans-fats, enriched white flour, processed meats, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sodium - all slow poisons served in SuperSize portions. Morgan Spurlock's famous documentary Super-Size Me really drives home the truth of what these unhealthy food products can do to a body that’s already grown. It's frightening to think what it does to children. It's become a dangerous staple of the Standard American Diet (SAD). 5. Diabetes is proliferating among our children, and half of all diabetic children are overweight: Remember when Type-2 Diabetes was called 'adult onset diabetes'? Well, we can't call it that anymore, because kids get it now, too. Why? Because of the junk they eat. According to The American Diabetes Association, the number of children diagnosed with type-2 diabetes DOUBLED between the years of 2005 and 2008. Let me say it again - the numbers in the US DOUBLED in THREE YEARS. If this doesn't get our attention, I don't know what will.

Healthy Holiday Eating We all know the holidays are the perfect time for all our good intentions about eating healthy to be sabotaged left and right. I wonder why – who said that egg nog was somehow more delicious than a fruit smoothie? Why would I be drawn to white mashed potatoes with butter instead of roasted red potatoes drizzled with grapeseed oil and fresh rosemary? Who decided that apple pie with ice cream is somehow more festive than a healthy apple crisp flavored with some nuts, raisins, and pure maple syrup? All too often, we let ourselves be tricked by mind games and say, “Well, it’s the holidays. It’s okay to have that huge slice of cheesecake, because how else are we supposed to celebrate?” It’s actually easier than you think to enjoy all your favorite foods – of course in moderation! – by making a few simple substitutions and shifting your mindset. Here are a few quick ideas to help you make it through the season without putting on a few pounds or just plain feeling run down.

Try to attend events with like-minded people. If you have friends who know that eating healthy is the best way to keep your spirits bright, plan a party where everyone brings a dish that will contribute to the group’s collective health, instead of ruining everyone’s good intentions!

Bring foods to all parties you attend. A typical party might have a roast beef with buttery mashed potatoes, veggies soaked in butter, and all kinds of pies, cakes, and cookies made with sugar and white flour. Add to the table yourself! Make a healthy sweet potato dish to put alongside the roast beef, and a big side of beautiful roasted vegetables. If you want the meat, have just a slice, and top the meal off with your own homemade whole grain oatmeal cookie, sweetened with maple syrup. With just a few substitutions, you have not only avoided disaster, but created a healthy and satisfying meal for yourself and perhaps even a few other health conscious guests.

For your own family’s meals, you can easily create a wholesome feast that fills the belly, heart and soul in a healthy way. You have control over where your food comes from and how to prepare it. Try some delicious creamy soups made with nuts as the base, instead of cream sauces. Bake whole grain breads from scratch – the aroma in the kitchen alone will lift everyone’s moods!

Think about the flavors of the season, and see where you can capitalize on them in a healthy way. Cinnamon is used in all kinds of “bad” foods, but the spice itself is a superfood that, used the right way in a tea or fruit crisp recipe, can be a real boost to your health. The same is true for raw chocolate and peppermint – try this amazing recipe and give away as gifts for holidays! http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2009/12/raw-vegan-chocolate-peppermint-donut.html

And of course, for many of us, a little “bad” food on occasion won’t ruin our health. Just don’t forget to keep eating a high nutrient diet even as you enjoy that slice of pie. If you do, you may even find your desire for the bad foods will slowly go away. In fact, it’s a powerful shift in your mind to go from thinking, “I want that, but I can’t have it” to “I can have it, but I don’t want it.” And why wouldn’t you want that amazing strawberry cheesecake? Because you know that some foods don’t do anything for your body, but they do all kinds of awful things to it. You don’t want that, and besides… you know that the holidays really aren’t about food anyway. There is so much more meaning to the season, and when we focus on our faith, family and friends first, the food takes its proper place at the party – as fuel, not focus.Happy holidays to everyone!

Welcome to our blog. Here you will find information about health, an eclectic mix of tips, ideas, recipes, and random thoughts and reflections on nourishment for mind, body, heart and soul. The intention of our posts is to inspire you on your path in creating a happier, healthier, lifestyle. We look forward to reading your comments and answering any questions you may have.

What is CreateWhole?Create means “to bring about”, Whole means “health and healing”. Hippocrates, the Greek Physician said, “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. Food is not just what you eat from your plate, but also the things that bring you peace, harmony and healing.By taking responsibility for creating your own health and healing, you choose to:

eat nutritious whole foods

have clear career goals

develop harmonious relationships

have a spiritual connection

Thus, at CreateWhole™ Wellness Services, LLC, we teach,guide, support, and coach you in integrating the components for bringing about balance of mind, body, heart and soul; the psychological, the physical, the emotional and the spiritual.